Berne used to be a major departure point for postal services and stagecoaches.

UNESCO: Culture

Jersey's competition regulator announced plans to remove price controls on stamps as part of a more relaxed regulation of postal services.

BBC: Jersey Post boss says internet keeps stamps cheaper

The debate over market opening is an opportunity to find out what people really want from their postal services and a chance to rethink how they work, says Michael Critelli, the boss of Pitney Bowes, a company that makes postal equipment and software.

ECONOMIST: Europe's postal services

It has set out goals of developing a more competitive telecoms market, liberalising postal services and working more closely with Guernsey.

BBC: Plans outlined for Jersey Post to have more competition

It lengthened the time for paying unemployment benefits to older workers, offered pensioners relief from rising prices and introduced minimum wages in half a dozen industries, including postal and security services.

ECONOMIST: Germany's chancellor: Merkel is the message | The

He has argued that greater thought should be given to how postal services are delivered to country parishes, and believes a network of sub-post offices should be maintained.

BBC: Plans outlined for Jersey Post to have more competition

The Postal Service, meanwhile, said it continues to plan for a cutback in services, setting up a possible showdown with Congress later this year.

WSJ: Saturday Postal Pullback in Limbo

Postal workers at a delivery office in east Kent are striking on Saturday over the reorganisation of services.

BBC: Royal Mail generic